DH 



The Modern Warfare 



1=] 



1=1 



and 



My Experiences 
in France 



by 



Obadiah M. Foster 




Price 35 cents per copy 



1919 



1^ 



X 



X 



CI A 528884 




Obadiah M. Foster 



The Modern WxVrfare and I\Iy Experiences in France. 



FOEEWORD 

Is life beset with struggle? 

Is life beset with grief? 
Where shall we look for succor? 

Where shall we find relief? 

While some are always grumbling, 
Others do the best they can: 

Why not strive to do your duty? 
Be a man. 

If troubles come upon you 

When you've done the best you can, 
Do not whimper like a baby, 

Be a man. 

Take heart, discouraged brother, 

Your daily aim should be 
That when your toils and cares shall end 

You live eternally ! 



THE MODERN WARFARE AND MY EXPERIENCES 
IN FRANCE 

By Ohadiah M. Foster 

I am going to inform you about the trip I had to France. After 
I was mustered into the service of the United States Army, I was 
sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio, to train for oversea service. 

I left Camp Sherman April the 12th, 1918, over the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad with two hundred and twelve other soldiers who had 
volunteered to go to France to fight to make' the World Safe for 
Democracy. I went to Camp IMerritt, Now^ Jersey, which is a debar- 
kation Camp for oversea soldiers. 

I stayed one week to receive the necessary equipment for service. 
After I had been fitted up I left Camp Merritt on the morning of 
April 22nd. 1918, for France. I stayed in port at Hoboken, New 
Jersey, all that day, night and the next day until 5 p. m. At that 
time I moved out of the harbor to sail for France. The weather 
was very fair. I had a fourteen days' voyage to France. 

During the trip we had some stormy weather, and I became seasick 
several times, but finally I overcame it before I reached France, 
j\Iay 6th, 1918. After I had got ashore I got in a truck and was 
carried to Napoleon Barracks. This was a rest camp in Brest, France, 
for the oversea soldiers from America. 

I left there the next week on the train for jMaffrecourt, France, 
where we joined the ''Old Fighting Fifteenth Regiment" of New, 
York, which is known as the 369th U. S. Infantry, of New York.' 
After I had joined them I was attached to the Third Battalion of 
this regiment for duty. I was Acting Liaison Sergeant for this bat- 
talion. ' This liaison work is a French stunt. We had a French Cor- 



2 The I\I()dern Warfare and My Experiences in France. 

poral from the One Hundred and Sixty-third Division, to which we 
were attached, who gave me information about this kind of work. 
I had thirty or fort}^ men under my charge for whom I was respon- 
sible during the war. The work of these men was to carry messages 
to the four companies of this battalion, namely, L Company, K Com- 
pany, ^I Company and the ^Machine Gun Company. ' jj^<u 

During my stay with the battalion I was in the Argonne Forest 
and the Champagne fronts. On the morning of the drive, September 
26, 1918, on the Champagne front I was gassed. I was in the drive 
six days and was gassed four times; but I was not too weak to go 
to the rear for treatment. But the hospitals were crowded and I 
only got a ten days' rest and a few pills to take. 
^* I was up in the Alsace-Lorraine section Avhen the Armistice was 
signed. One thing I noticed about the way the French soldiers fought 
was this : they fought to save men as well as win the war, and I con- 
sidered that as a piece of strategic work. 

We were fighting in the Northern section of France. In this sec- 
tion a great deal of farming was carried on, the soil being very rich. 
The things that were raised in this section are: white potatoes, beans, 
turnips, cabbage, kale and sugar beets. I was informed that in the 
Southern i^art of France the people had large vineyards. 

On our trip through the North Central part of France we saw some 
of these vineyards. Quite a number of the people in this section lived 
in caves and were called "Cave Dwellers." 

I had read about the ''Cave Dwellers" in history, but I never did 
think I should have the pleasure of seeing them. Before we had 
reached the Alsace-Lorraine the most part of France was very hilly. 
On the slope of these hills there were small to^^Tis. The town where 
we had our rest camp, called '']\raffrecourt." was on the slope of a 
hill. Also there were quite a number of towns located in valleys. 
These towns were visited quite often by shells that were thrown 
from the German Artillery. ,; 

Our trip to the Alsace-Lorraine we were carried in trucks over 
the Alps. On the winding roads around the Alps we went through 
many villages where the Dutch people lived. It was one of the most 
beautiful scenes one would want to see. We could look down into 
the valleys and see small villages, towns and railroads. 

After we had reached our destination which was called ]Meuse. we 
stayed there one-half a day and night. Early the next morning the 
Third Battalion Avent up into the sector which had been occupied 
by the German soldiers. 

After being attached to the Third Battalion for duty, I had to go 
out to the Argonne Forest. There we stayed twenty days. When 
the twenty days had expired, I went to the rest camp at La Char- 
meresse. After I left there I Avent to ]\Ielzicourt and stayed there 
three days. Then I went to ]\Iaffrecourt on the morning of July 4th, 
1918. From this place I went to the trenches again. On the night 
of the 14th of July, 1918, which is the French holiday, the Germans 
attacked the French. They attempted to make a drive and break 
through the French line and come into Paris. "^^ The French soldiers 



The ^Modern AYarfare axd ]\Iy Experiences ix Fraxce. 8 

held their ground, also the American troops, and drove the Germans 
back tAvelve miles and took about 120,000 prisoners. 
v^ The soldiers were between the ages of nineteen and twenty-one 
years old. They said thej^ were glad to give up to their comrades, 
because they were hungry and they wanted something to eat. We 
were just behind the French troops; in case they should retreat we 
would reenforce them. But the French and the American soldiers 
were still advancing every day until we had captured the "Kaiser" 
and whipped Germany. ^ "C' ; 

This war was fought with observation balloons, aeroplanes, artillery, 
machine guns, trench motor rifles, carbines and hand grenades. On 
the night of July 14th. 1918, five American soldiers of the 369th 
U. S. Infantry were killed by shells and several were wounded. 
Afterwards on July 16. 1918, we had two soldiers killed. 

Quite a number of our men were gassed. In most cases I think 
thev will recover. 



THE MODERN WARFARE. 

The first thing in the morning. 

And the last thing at night. 

Is the roaring of the artillery, 

Its constant music seems to be roaring in our ears, 

Ever^^ night when we lie down to sleep, 

When we start about the boys begin to shout 

-\bout that whistling sound overhead; 

Sometimes it's ''Boche" and sometimes it's French, bv ?o?h, 

Throwing those awful gas shells. 

Wherever they hit they kill soldiers, lice and nits 

That are within their reach. 

But still we move on, listening overhead 
For shells and aeroplanes ; 
Our two heroes.' Johnson and Roberts, ■ 
Out on "No Man's Land" go, 
Hunting for boche, you know. 

Johnson killed a few boches and saved his comrade Robert ■; 
From being captured by boche soldiers; 

But the people at home don't know like Johnson and Roborrs know, 
Who have been fighting in Modern Warfare. 

We say our prayers and ask for aid 
From the people at home we know. 

For God knows like the boys know that have been fighting in Modern 
Warfare, 

We throw hand grenades when we get in close range of the enemy's 

trench. 
Because we know if we don't throw, the enemy would throw at us so. 
But God only knows, like the boys know who have been fight in-- ir 

]\Iodern Warfare. 



4 The Modern Warfare and My Experiences in France. 

On September 26. 1918, the open warfare started. That same 
day on "Xo Man's Land" I was gassed very badly, but I continued 
to move on. Our first day we lost over half of K Company. Several 
men were gassed and^vounded. Quite a number of officers were 
killed that morning. . * 

AYe went over several hills and captured a number of prisoners, 
machine guns, and large artillery guns and plenty of ammunition. 
Our [Major and Acting Adjutant were injured, but I think they will 
recover. Our battalion was relieved by the French. ^Moroccans, Three 
Hundred and Seventy-second soldiers and the First Battalion. Dur- 
ing the drive we took three of the enemy's villages. I was Acting 
Liaison Sergeant during the drive of the Third Battalion Headciuar- 
ters. ]\Iy work was to send runners out to the different companies 
with messages from the ]\Iajor to the Captain of the company. 

During this open warfare ciuite a number of. my men were gassed, 
injured and missing. Through the help of the Almighty God* I was 
not injured very badly. The last sector that we were in was about 
40 feet down in the earth, although we had lice to keep us com- 
pany. We had to keep lights lit the whole time we were there. 

Quite a number of times during the night we were visited by 
"Boche" shells. We had to haA^e two sentries on every night at the 
doors of the "dugout" to notify the Commander if there was any 
gas thrown over by the enemy. Every morning before these sentries 
went off duty they would wake up the Sergeant [Major for the mornino: 
reports of the four companies. After these reports had been brought 
in to the battalion thej^ were consolidated into one and sent to the 
Regimental headquarters, as requested by the Colonel. 



THE OPEN WARFARE. 

On the morning of September 26. 1918, the open warfare started. 

The One Hundred ?ud Sixty-third and Moroccans advanced. 

The Three Hundred and Sixty-ninth followed. 

The going over the top. Xo Man's Land, 

Through smoke, shots and shells some were gassed. 

Some were injured and some were killed 

By Boche's machine guns and artillery; 

We still moved on through shots, smokes and shells. 

Looking for Boche soldiers. 

The Sun rose that morning shining bright on the battlefield, you know. 

We still advanced over Xo [Man's Land, 

Capturing Boches as wx go: 

On that same day we did lie in one place 

For safety from boche's machine gun shells. 

Because if we moved you know what they would do 

For our soldiers. 

Captain Shaw said. "Let's take a chance and over to the other side go. 

Because if we stay here we'll be shot up so bad by the enemy's shells.'' 

So he led the way across the narrow bridgeway to the other side of 
the stream. 



The ]\Iodern AYarfare and I\Iy Experiences ix France. 5 

A few of us followed, some wiere injured and some were not, 03i 
crossing the narrow stream; 
^ We waded in water up to our knees, reaching the other side of the 
stream. 
There we stayed until evening came, waiting for a chance to move. 

After evening came we moved to the road. 

AYe spent that night on the side of the hill; 

The next morning came, we advanced over No Man's Land, you know, 

On that same day we came to our stopping place, 

AYhich was called our objective. 

But still we had faith in the Almighty above for landing us safely there. 
For He only knoAvs what we know who have reached our objecti^^. 



We left for Les Menauex. France, the latter part of S:^ptember. 
1918. The night that we left it rained very hard. We went to 
Somme-Bionne and there spent about three or four days. Then we 
went to the trenches, starting on our open warfare drive. The 
weather Avas very fair and there was not much bombardment, but 
the machine guns were used very much by boches during the drive. 
We were hemmed in by boches. Our machine gun soldiers kept them 
from coming nearer to our position, the shallow trenches. 

The officers who were vdth us vrere: Captain L'Esperance, Acting 
]Ma,ior; Lieutenant Leland, Acting Adjutant. He was killed by a 
boche soldier. After the Acting Adjutant was shot the Acting ^Maior 
took one of the private's gun and shot and killed the boche who killed 
the Acting Adjutant. 

The Acting Major said: ''Lord they have got Leland; Lord they 
have got Leland. ' ' Orderly Ellis for Captain Shaw was sent to deliver 
the message to the Commander of IM Companj^ to bring up his com- 
pany as reenforcement to keep the enemy from capturing us. After ^^ 
Private Ellis had been gone for twenty minutes Captain Shaw sent ^ 
me to deliver the message to Lieutenant Grams. Commanding Com- 
pany ]\L to bring up his reinforceiirent. I started on my way. I saw 
Ellis lying down; so I asked him what was the matter. He toUl me 
he was dodging boche shells. I told him to get up and go vdth me. 
so he did. After we had started Ellis was shot through the knee 
and then he told me, "Foster, they got me." He crawled down to 
the embankment in the road for safety, then I tied his knee up with 
his leggin. Then I proceeded down the road because he said that his 
knee had become weak and he could not go any further, and he told 
me to have the stretcher bearer to come after him. but be careful 
and don't get shot. 

I was successful in ])ringing aI Company's men to the position 
where we were and kept our troops from being captured. That 
sanit. day me moved farther down the trenches where we reached 
our next objective. There we spent the night. 
\\ I was sent from this objective to the Regimental Head(|uarters to 
take a message stating how many officers and men were killed and 
injured and also the number of men who were still alive. '-^ Colonel 



.^ 



6 The ^^Ioderx Warfare and My Experiences ix France. 

llayward said: "Our work is very good." That same night we were 
l)lanning to go over the top behind the French. 

AVe stayed there all night and the French soldiers dug in for the 
night. A\ e dug in also. The next' morning we went over the top 
of •• Snake Hill." On this hill we lost very nearly a thousand men. 
This is where we got the name of our insignia "The Snake."' This 
was the sixth day of the drive. AYe were on our way to a small town 
which the Germans were shelling. The French soldiers said that the 
American soldiers are good fighters but we are too fast. 

I often wonder why they would not let us shoot. They said that 
we would give away our position and the enemy would know where 
w.' are. They also would not let us bombard cities because there was 
an agreement between the Germans and the Allies not to shell cities 
and towns where there were hospitals, women, children and prisoners 
(■f war. Germany broke this agreement and she had to suffer the 
consequence. 

By us advancing so fast we got ahead of the French Artillery ; 
then we had to retreat to "Snake Hill." After returning back to 
this hill we sent up several rockets, namely, red. white and green. 
But they did not pay any attention to it. During the same time we 
were relieved by the 372nd Regiment or "Red Hand Regiment" and 
the First Battalion of the "Rattle Snake" Regiment, better known 
as the "Hell Fighters." That same afternoon the men of these two 
regiments advanced and took the town we attempted to take. This 
was the next objective: at that same place a number of prisoners 
were captured and a plenty of ammunition, furniture and milk cows. 

I went to the rear before this city was captured because I was 
gassed the fourth time. I went back for treatment, but I only got a 
ten days' rest and a few pills to take. After I came back from the 
rest camp I took up my duty with the Third Battalion Headquarters. 
They were stationed in a little village about four kilometers from the 
Regimental Headquarters. TVe left this place with the troops and 
hiked to the train. This was a twenty-mile hike. We left at night. 
We reached our destination the next morning at nine o 'clock, and it 
wa^- raining. 

We took the train at this point and left about eleven o'clock that 
day. We traveled all the rest of the day and that night. We went 
through Chaumont where the American Headquarters are located. 
We stayed there ten minutes. The next morning at six o 'clock we got 
off the train and marched through the fortified city of Belfort. which 
is something on the order of our American cities. We hiked about 
three kilometers out from this city to another town called Arrigny. 
The French people treated us very nice by giving us some of the 
sweete.st apples that one would want to put in his mouth. They 
tasted just like sugar. After we left Arrigny we came to ^leuse, 
France, in the trucks. 

This was one of the best trips we had made up to this point. We 
went over the winding roads of the Alps near the Switzerland border. 
This resrion is called Alsace-Lorraine. This i^ the place wher-e I heard 
a Rabbi preached on in Xew York City. His text was, "What Are 
We Fiirhting for?" His whole theme was on the Alsace-Lorraine 



The ]\1odern Warfare and ^1y Experiences in France. 7 

section of France, concerning the invasion of German soldiers in this 
part of France. He said that you mothers and fathers will have to 
send your sons to fight in this Great World's War for Democracy. 
He spoke in Carnegie Hall, New York City. He ended his sermon 
with these words: "With Malice toward none and Charity for All." 
After we had stayed there one night, we left for the trenches with 
our Commanders the next morning around the winding roads of the 
Alps until we reached our P. C, which was called "Camp Amic." X> 
We were there ten days. I found this sector to be one of the best 
we have been in, because the "dugouts" are better. It is very cold 
up there, but it was a very healthy place. 



Around the roads and through the woods 
We steadily moved on up the Alps ; 
We passed fresh water and running streams 
As we passed on up the winding Alps; 

We saw small towns in the far distance 

As we advanced, 

AYe drank fresh water from the tlowing springs 

As we moved on up the winding Alps. 

We saw green pines and beautiful flowers, 

A few shells were thrown from Boehe's Artillery; 

They did echo in the far distance 

As we moved on up the winding roads. 



\ 



''A TOAST.'' 

To our women who sent forth with courage in their hearts and tears 

in their eyes. 
To our women at home who are sacrificing their all that we may win ; 
To our women who are here, who give their own lives that we may live ! 
God bless them and damn the man who does not respect them, 
And the coward who does not fight for them! 

Finished is the first word I learned in French. On the morning 
of November 11th, 1918, the armistice was signed at eleven o'clock. 
The weather was very fair. The French people shouted for joy. A 
few days afterwards I could not believe that it was true, because the 
people in the Alsace-Lorraine section of the country had been under 
the German Government for forty years. But anyway I am glad that 
they are free. This part of France is very fertile. The farmers in 
this section of the country have plenty to eat around them. We were 
treated very royally by them, welcoming us into their homes, ])ut 
some of us could not appreciate it because some of us would take things 
that did not belong to us. 

It will be one of my greatest desires to visit France in the future, 
just to see how the French people are getting along. You see in 
this section the people wear wooden shoes and use steers to plow the 
ground. The German people Avanted this part of France because it 
is very fertile; but as God should have it they did not get it from the 



^~ 



X 



8 The Modern Warfare and My Experiences in France. 

Alsatian people. These people are very peaceful, but they were com- 
pelled to fight against their will by the German Government. The 
Old Fighting Fifteenth, or 369th U. S. Infantry, was the first regiment 
to reach the Rhine and gnard it. I had the pleasure of washing my 
face in it. ' 



THE RHINE. 



As we sat on the Rhine one Sunday morn 
Watching the streams go by 
We saw German towns in the far distance, 
As we were watching the Rhine. 

A beautiful scene as one would want to see. 
That of watching the Rhine; 
Two days and nights we watched the Rhine, 
As the stream w^as flowing by. 

We drank water out of the flowing Rhine 
As we watched the streams go by, 
Nature seemed to be in its splendor 
As we sat watching the Rhine. 

We built a big barnfire on its banks 

While watching it. 

If you could have been there, you would have enjoyed it too. 

Watching it. 

Three of us slept in one tent, 

While we were watching it; 

We had a number of dreams 

AVhen we went to sleep. 

As we were watching it. 

The searchlights were thrown upon the Rhine, 

Searching for German soldiers. 

While w^e were watching it ; 

We had about three kilometers to get our mess, 

Some meals we had plenty, and some meals we did not. 

As w^e were watching it. 

Foster, Napper and Farrison slept in this one tent. 
Watching it. 

If you could have been there you would have enjoyed it too. 
Sleeping on the banks of the Rhine. 



During our stav in France since the war is over it has been said 
that the Third Battalion of the 369th U. S. Infantry has received an 
honor that no other battalion of this regiment has received from the 
French Government, which was called the ''Legion of Honor." I 
would like to say this : during our stay over here since the war is oyer 
we have had more stealing in this battalion than any other battalion 
of this regiment, all because the soldiers are not fed and paid. , *< 



The ]\Iodern Warfare and ^Iy Experiences in France. 9 

There is one thing sure about the colored soldiers ; if you want 
to get along with them, that is feed and pay them. That is the only 
way that stealing can be stopped ; because if a man is hungry he will 
steal. That applies to any man, namely, white, black, brown, yellow 
and red. It is the sense of touch. During the time I was in the 
States before I came to France I happened to be in a restaurant. I 
saw a notice which read like this: ''Think we have no preference, if 
overlooked in a minute ; don 't think you are misused, because no one 
is perfect. We try to do the best we can." I think if all races live 
up to that principle there will be no trouble about ''you took my food 
and you did not deserve it, because you are not worth the salt that 
goes in your bread." 

BE A W0]\1AN. 

Is life beset with struggle ? 
Is life beset with grief f 
Where shall we look for succor"? 
Where shall we find relief f 

While some are always grumbling 
Others do the best they can; 
Why not strive to do your duty. 
Be a woman. 

If troubles come upon you 

When you have done the best you can, 

Do not whimper like a baby, 

Be a woman. 

Take heart, discouraged sister, 

Your daily aim should be 

That when your toils and cares shall end, 

You live eternally. 



I would like to vsay to all red blooded Americans of the United 
States that is this( during our stay in France after the Armistice 
and the peace terms had been signed there was a discussion come up 
about "draftees and enlisted men." What difference does it maKe 
when all of us are in the same man's army catching the same hell, 
bitten by the same kind of flees and lice, sleeping in the same trenches 
and dugouts during this World's War and some of us have been 
injured, killed and gassed by the same kind of vshells which were 
shot by the enemy ; because the enemy did not have no respective 
person in the World's War to shoot at. 

We all got the same kind of rations and received the same kind 
of tobacco to smoke *from the Red Cross Society, drank water from 
the same streams, fought side by side in the same Army. The only 
difference I see is just in name — one is National Army, IT. S. A., and 
the other National Guard, IT. S. A. We attended the same Y. ^I. 
C. A., heard the same Chaplain preach, drank cocoa from the same 
place and bought cake from the same Y. ]\r. C. A. ; received pay from 
the same paymaster of the U. S. A. and prayed prayers in the same 



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10 The aioDERN Warfare and My Experiences in France. 

TI S A • used profane language in the same army and fought T'|';\> 
L same'flis. namely. U. I. A., and French. God who is he^^glrt-N^ 
eous iudge of the whole situation and who had His Son to die on , 
the cioss that the world might be saved from its sms, because He 
had no respect for persons and of which God said that ^^ my beloved c 
Son n whom I am well pleased. If anyone can tell me the difference \J 
? would m™ to know. "Vou might as well to own up to it because^ 
there s no difference. We all are striving for the same goal. Let M" 
s «^rk ogether as we never have worked before, because whereA^ere 
runity there is strength, for divided we fall, together we «tand^-¥olu 
God shall be mv God. voiir people my people m whom 1 11 tru.st^ 
^1 t_Don't misunderstand me about stealing. »-- 'X'so'lS 
to sleal from their mother's womb, but the majority of the soldiers 
will not steal unless they are hungry and are not paid 
V Wnvtv vpars for what? Forty years to rule the world m eommer e 
tnd Chr stiani V I would call this great World's War a^ football 
Si'ivMch was played between the Allies and Germany^ The gam 
,rn« called four vears ago. Germany kicked off to the Allies, tnt 
luies received tli. ball. They fumbled it then "Boch ' got it and 
. mide%Srfve with which tliey were successful in ga»mg Mgiuim 
They started into France. They were checked bj Prance, altliou^n 

*^^hrG:rmr;'tTet;e*rtouchdow-ns in Franc. Finally 

off their territory by in.juring, killing «^d i^P*™ .^.''^^ t^ f :^, 

On September 26. 1918, Prance kicked off to Germanj. inis «ab 

tbp ^ast hal? of the game, which would decide who would be the 

• tor:y £ '^Vorldl Wa.'' football ganie G™-^--;^ ^ 

%indenrrg had a great line on tbe Western Front^ It ^.-assaW 
that it could not be broken but the Alhe broke it and made 
final touchdown which ended the ^°^/^.^\y^f ^^^'^^'h^ve seen pictures 
S^tStXn^t f r^^S^ay^rthtta^r is the fulfillment 
of the Bible. ^ j - _______ 

With a laugh in your heart 

And a smile in your face 

Stand up in the world and stick to your place ; 

Don't let grim mischances 

Triumph over you, 

Don't think of stoppmg, ^Yhatever > ou do. 



The ]\Iodern Warfare and ]\Iy Experiences in France. 11 

Keep busy, keep cheerful, 

Be constant and true. 

And fortune nonplussed 

Will surrender to you. 

And in the conclusion 

My motto is: What man has done 

]\Ian will do, I'll try. 



In the drive which started September 26, 1918,'^nd lasted through 
October our regiment, the SGQth U. S. Infantry, formerly the Old 
Fighting Fifteenth of New York, colored, took what was known as 
''Snake Hill." The French soldiers were not able to take that hill 
in the last four years of the bloodiest wars in history. We took it 
for them, although we lost very nearly a thousand men in doing so. 

The French soldiers called us the "Hell Fighters." They also 
gave us our insignia, which is the snake on the uniforms we wear. 
The whole regiment was cited for bravery and every soldier in the 
regiment is to receive a Croix de Guerre ; whether he has received it 
or not all of them are due to receive it, etc. 

In geometry Ave have a problem which reads like this: The shortest 
distance between two points is a straight line. But in this New Re- 
vised Edition will read like this: The longest distance between two 
points is a crooked line. In France they have many straight roads 
and quite a number of crooked roads. The 369th U. S. Infantry hiked 
over a number of crooked roads. 

I believe we have hiked all over the Northern part of France. The 
men of the United States Army, whether you be white, brown, black, 
yellow or red and if you are a citizen of the Northern, Eastern. 
Southern or Western States, "Make good where you are." In this 
modern history of which some writer in the United States will write, 
if it has not already been written, children who are unborn will 
know about the Kaiser. He held the whole world at attention for 
four years, then Hindenburg said parade rest. 

I would like to say to the French people, please fortify the Rhine 
River as soon as possible, in order that the Armistice and the peace 
terms will be everlasting. 



GABIANS AND FASCINES. 

By Ohadiah M. Foster, Acting Liaison Sergeant. 

As we sat in the office one day 

Talking about gabians and fascines, 

I heard someone speak about Gabians and Fascines. 

One of my comrades could not pronounce the names 

Of gabians and fascines ; 

I heard someone speak about 

Gabians and Fascines 

At Camp Sherman, you know. 

But two of the geratest things that were used in the war 

Were gabians and fascines. 



12 The Modej?n Warfare and My Experiences in France. 

A man can 't be a good soldier 
Unless he knows gabians and fascines ; 
There are plenty of men in the army 
Who don't know gabians and fascines. 

Bnt I wonld like to say to anyone 

Who can't pronounce the names of Gabians and Fascines, 

]\Iake it your business from now on 

To know gabians and fascines. 



THE ''JAZZ KING." 

By 01) ad i ah M. Foster. 

Lieutenant Jim Europe, the ''Jazz King," 

The whole world knows it. 

It is his jazz in all the magazines anct papers you read. 

Because he wrote it. 

He is the man who put "M" in music, 

I am sure you all will not doubt it ; 

The greatest jazzer since there has been jazz in music, 

Ever since he came from Europe. 

When we marched up Fifth Avenue 

Everyone who witnessed it. 

That is was Lieutenant Jim Reese Europe's "Jazz" 

That made us strut our stuff. 

Someone said why don't you all smile, 

You all look so sincere; 

But when Jim's Band played Ave smiled and danced a jig. 

Because it was the pep and ginger that he put into his music 

That caused us to have success. 

Heaven claims his soul, 

He rests in peace in Arlington Cemetery, 

Where he will worry no more. 

Let his name and good works live on forever, 

Because he has won fame that no other musician has won, 

That caused us to have success. 



THE MODERN WARFARE AND MY EXPERIENCES 
IN FRANCE 



By Obadiah M. Foster 



Page 

I. My Trip to France 1 

II. Joining the 369th U. S. Infantry of New York, 

formerly the Old 15th Regiment 1 

III. Assigned to 3rd Battalion for Duties 2 

IV. The Trench Life 3 

V. Poem 'The Modern Warfare^' 3 

VI. The Open Warfare 4 

VII. Poem "The Open Warfare'^ 4 

VIII. The Winding Alps 6 

IX. A Toast 7- 

X. The Alsace-Lorraine Region 7 . 

XI. Somewhere a Woman 7^ 

XIL The Rhine 8 ^- 

XIII. During My Stay in France 8 

XIV. Poem ''BeaWoman^^ 9 

XV. The World^s Greatest Football Game 10 

XVI. The Geometry Problem 10 

XVII. Poem "Gabians and Fascines" 11 

XVIII. 'The Jazz King" 12 

Copyright by Obadiah M. Foster 



